After doing some initial research it looks as though two nights in Inverness is adequate. We will be there mid October and were hoping to go north to see puffins but perhaps it will be too cold and wet? So now thinking to take a day trip over to Skye. Found a company called Timberbush that will do the excursion. Anyone have experience with them? Is that do-able for 2 nights based there?
Then we thought we'd drive down to Stirling and spend 2 nights there before flying out from Edinburgh to Shannon Ireland. Would love some feed back.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1641 posts
Puffins return to land in Scotland in April-May to Mate. June-July raise chicks. August return to Sea. So, you will have missed them. It is a probablity that it will be raining by mid-October. Inverness is a fine site to visit some "Outlander" sites such as Culloden, and the time tripping stones. You might be under estimating how long it takes to drive distances in Scotland. Pull up some maps that will calculate timing. Check accomodations in Skye, in the past some will close in October until next year. Skyegirl will let you know what is happening this year. I stayed in Stirling and there are quite a few things to see and do. I would spend more time near Edinburgh and Glasgow that time of year for entertainment, culture and the arts. Stay slightly out of town if you are driving to save money on lodgings. They do have buses and trains that run more often.
Posted by
Freedonia
17700 posts
A few years ago I took a one day to to Skye from Inverness with Rabbies. It was excellent.
I have no experience with Timberbush while others might. I believe Timberbush uses full size coaches while Rabbies uses 16 passenger minivans.
The day I took the tour, the sky was clear and our guide was able to take us up to one of the mountains due to the smaller size of the vehicle.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10159 posts
Even if the weather is perfect there are no puffins to see in October. If they haven't gone yet then they will be any day now.
It is very good to see someone giving Stirling the time it deserves, not just half a day on the way to somewhere else.
There is a lot you can do from Inverness - Culloden, Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, the Speyside distilleries, Fort George and Elgin, the Highland Folk Museum, Dornoch, the Black Isle and Dunrobin Castle.
Skye in a day is a bit of a whirlwind visit- something like 5 of the 12 hours of the tour are going to be sat on the bus.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thank you!